Your fleet running reports

[Beany]

I need to code that function on my one; something to do with it dropping the top on the cabrios, and it not necessarily being safe if you're not at the car (in case some silly bugger sticks their hand in the way, etc).

It is doable though; which reminds me, I need to go back into the other thread and check SJs link regarding BMW link cables....

[Sundayjumper]

Lots of fun with The Compact.

The "new" front hubs arrived and I whacked them on only to find one of the ABS sensors was duff. These are horrible to remove due to the amount of rust that inevitably builds up on hubs. I had a bash (literally) at the good ones on the old hubs as practice and promptly destroyed them. Oops. Having thought about it, and calmed down, I discovered that since I'd removed the backing plates from the old hubs I could get my ball joint splitter on there and press them out quite easily. New cheapie replacements ordered from eBay on Friday and delivered Saturday. Nice ! Fitted them to the old hubs and swapped the hubs back over today. Reset the error and we have ABS again.

New fake Momo steering wheel arrived to go with the boss I'd bought ages ago. Discovered that the boss does not fit my car as unbeknownst to me there are "early" and "late" E36 steering columns and the cheap ads don't mention that Ordered a "late" type at 4x the cost because I can't wait a couple of weeks for a delivery from China.

While the wheel was off I took the opportunity to cut up the wiring and fit a resistor to bypass the airbag. They're pennies each but you can't buy fewer than 25 at a time. So if anyone local wants a 3.3 ohm resistor, pop by some time, I've got 24 spares.

Ordered some 100Ω resistors and 1N4007 diodes to create a bypass for the passenger occupancy mat. Same issue as above re. quantities. They arrived very quickly but it turned out I'd accidentally ordered 100kΩ resistors, not 100Ω. D'oh. Ordered some 100Ω resistors.

Bought bucket seats & E36 mounts from ebay seller "bbclassiccars". They turned up promptly but are TINY so I needed to return them (distance selling regs etc). Long story short: took them back in person for expediency (an hour's drive), but the seller is an utter wanker and I've only got part of my money back despite having a stand-up argument about it in their shop. Cunts.

Fitted a 2kg handheld fire extinguisher. Not required in the rules but I thought it would be a good idea.

Decided I'll have to use the seats from the Porsche for now but will obviously need seat mounts. There's a fairly standard design for these and I remembered that there's a company called "SW Motorsport" making them, their logo is cut into the mounts and my initials happen to be "SW" so that will look quite nice

Applied driver & navigator name tags to the car. becauserallycar.

The drive to collect wheels the other day highlighted that the car needed a new thermostat. I don't know why I didn't do it right away when I bought it, one of my hobby horses is that used cars always benefit from a new thermostat, and I was right. Again. Just over £25 from ECP and easy to fit. Those Germans design stuff very sensibly.

The throttle seemed a bit sticky, difficult to apply a small input from idle, so I had the throttle body off today for a good clean. Sorted. A test drive to Sainsbury's to buy some booze proved it to be working nicely. I'd normally go to Waitrose, obvs, but I needed a longer drive to get everything properly warmed up.

Enquired about a roll cage from Safety Devices, to the same spec as the one I have in the Porsche. Lead time currently is currently late Feb ! I knew it wouldn't be off the shelf, but I was hoping for this year maybe.

[Sundayjumper]

It is doable though; which reminds me, I need to go back into the other thread and check SJs link regarding BMW link cables....

Hmm, can't remember how the E46 works, I never had a convertible to play with. The F-series cars use a different system that is completely different and actually more easily accessible.

[integrale_evo]

Pretty sure any old obd2 cable will work on e46s. It's the stupid big round connector on e36s that's a pain.

INPA is the program you want for diagnostics, I'm pretty sure it used a com interface so you'll probably need a USB to com adapter and com port obd2 cable.

If you can get it up and running it's far better than any aftermarket diagnostic scanner. In fact it's better than anything bmw dealers have access to. It's basically manufacturer level stuff, lets you look at all the modules. Read and reset codes, read abs sensors in real time, operate different sections of the air conditioning system etc.

I have a copy, but it's over 300mb which would take forever to try and upload, so may be best scouting around the forums for a copy, and I installed following a guide on YouTube, but can't find it at the moment....

[Rich B]

Do you not have isofix in the front? I think later E90s may have but mine doesn't. I'm sure the wife's E81 1-series had it but that was 12mo younger than mine.

I do, but I’d rather have him in the back.

Things have changed and my niece still uses a rear facing seat and she's 4

The rear facing seat wouldn't fit in the E46 and you needed to buy an extended belt and recoding for something daft like £400+

I sold it and bought a new Mondeo which I owned for 10 months whilst my youngest was in a rear facing seat. I could feel my balls shrinking week by week

i tried the rear facing seat in the front seat isofix points this morning (with airbag disabled) - it’s so much easier to get him in and out (and get him properly strapped in) and he loved it.



I’ll be sticking with it - it’s a 5 minute drive on quiet roads to his nursery and we use the 320d for family outings/long trips.

[ste]

[Swervin_Mervin]

Beany - bear in mind that "comfort access" is the weakness that tea-leaves exploit to get access to the car and its OBD port. Not that I'm convinced an old E46 is going to be top of their shopping list. We've had it disabled on ours.

[GG.]

I do, but I’d rather have him in the back.

Things have changed and my niece still uses a rear facing seat and she's 4

The rear facing seat wouldn't fit in the E46 and you needed to buy an extended belt and recoding for something daft like £400+

I sold it and bought a new Mondeo which I owned for 10 months whilst my youngest was in a rear facing seat. I could feel my balls shrinking week by week

i tried the rear facing seat in the front seat isofix points this morning (with airbag disabled) - it’s so much easier to get him in and out (and get him properly strapped in) and he loved it.



I’ll be sticking with it - it’s a 5 minute drive on quiet roads to his nursery and we use the 320d for family outings/long trips.

Shame mine doesn't have a compatible seat for the front as I'm sure the boy would love it.

[JLv3.0]

How long should they be rear-facing for? Just asking for, erm, a friend.........

[Swervin_Mervin]

How long should they be rear-facing for? Just asking for, erm, a friend.........

As long as possible, some say 4yo or even more.

15 months in our case

[JLv3.0]

Shite as long as that eh? I guess I should look into this whole fatherhood thing a bit more than I have to date. i.e. none, at all.

[mik]

I do, but I’d rather have him in the back.

Things have changed and my niece still uses a rear facing seat and she's 4

The rear facing seat wouldn't fit in the E46 and you needed to buy an extended belt and recoding for something daft like £400+

I sold it and bought a new Mondeo which I owned for 10 months whilst my youngest was in a rear facing seat. I could feel my balls shrinking week by week

i tried the rear facing seat in the front seat isofix points this morning (with airbag disabled) - it’s so much easier to get him in and out (and get him properly strapped in) and he loved it.



I’ll be sticking with it - it’s a 5 minute drive on quiet roads to his nursery and we use the 320d for family outings/long trips.

Thats a pretty big Thunderbird 2 toy you've got him

[integrale_evo]

Beany - bear in mind that "comfort access" is the weakness that tea-leaves exploit to get access to the car and its OBD port. Not that I'm convinced an old E46 is going to be top of their shopping list. We've had it disabled on ours.

No e46 has comfort access, you always need to either press the unlock button on the key or turn the key in the lock.

[Rich B]

Shite as long as that eh? I guess I should look into this whole fatherhood thing a bit more than I have to date. i.e. none, at all.

You find out as you go with products - like when we went to get his push chair/pram thing before he was born, we walked out of the shop with a completely different one to what we thought we would because of a whole load of factors we didn’t even realise were even factors!

His next car seat (which i already have) should last from now until 4 years old and goes on the existing isofix base.

It’s a minefield - find a decent shop that can help you!

[Rich B]

Things have changed and my niece still uses a rear facing seat and she's 4

The rear facing seat wouldn't fit in the E46 and you needed to buy an extended belt and recoding for something daft like £400+

I sold it and bought a new Mondeo which I owned for 10 months whilst my youngest was in a rear facing seat. I could feel my balls shrinking week by week

i tried the rear facing seat in the front seat isofix points this morning (with airbag disabled) - it’s so much easier to get him in and out (and get him properly strapped in) and he loved it.



I’ll be sticking with it - it’s a 5 minute drive on quiet roads to his nursery and we use the 320d for family outings/long trips.

Thats a pretty big Thunderbird 2 toy you've got him

Yeah, I thought it was rubbish at first, its bin sat outside for a while - but it actually looks wheely good... though

[JLv3.0]

It’s a minefield - find a decent shop that can help you!

You forget where I live "oh yes boss this one too much nice isn't it vhat"

We'll just figure it out as we go. Even thick people have kids, it can't be THAT hard.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Beany - bear in mind that "comfort access" is the weakness that tea-leaves exploit to get access to the car and its OBD port. Not that I'm convinced an old E46 is going to be top of their shopping list. We've had it disabled on ours.

No e46 has comfort access, you always need to either press the unlock button on the key or turn the key in the lock.

Comfort access is dropping the windows after holding the button or keeping the key turned, no?

[GG.]

Even thick people have kids, it can't be THAT hard.

They do but I'm not sure you'd want to model your child on their offspring

[mik]

i tried the rear facing seat in the front seat isofix points this morning (with airbag disabled) - it’s so much easier to get him in and out (and get him properly strapped in) and he loved it.



I’ll be sticking with it - it’s a 5 minute drive on quiet roads to his nursery and we use the 320d for family outings/long trips.

Thats a pretty big Thunderbird 2 toy you've got him

Yeah, I thought it was rubbish at first, its bin sat outside for a while - but it actually looks wheely good... though

I refuse to believe that.

[JLv3.0]

Indeed, however this is where my own inherent ability, experience and intelligence will come into operation.

Hers too, to a far lesser extent of course

Joking apart, she's of the same mindset as me. Went to a (I'm assuming) Lamaze class yesterday and said it was full of overly-researched mumzillas either competing on who knew more about stuff, or alternately freaking out because something icky once happened to a friend or relative.

She's just going to ignore it, wait for the contractions, I'll drive her to the hospital (assuming he shows up in my two-week visit to Germanistan of course) and let them walk her through it.